New Member IBS-C with gas /pain/ bloating
#10125 - 05/28/03 07:43 AM
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artist
Reged: 05/28/03
Posts: 132
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I am a new member. I have suffered symptoms for about 9 months. I currently have slight C, however my worst symptoms are pain and bloating. I am a 41 yr old female. My bloating symptoms developed quite suddenly. Previously, I had D only during an anxiety attack. I have been tested for Celiac, had a pelvic ultrasound of my ovaries, upper GI, and small bowel series. All tests were negative except to show I have a 5cm uterine fibroid. My GI specialist is going to schedule me for a colonoscopy. The GI says it is IBS. He prescribed Zelnorm. I am 5'4" 108 lbs. but my belly looks like I am pregnant. Yikes! Sorry to bore everyone with the dreary details but I wanted to give some background. I know it has helped me to see that others have similar symptoms. When this first started, I was sure I was the only one with these bizarre things going on. I felt very alone and frightened. I was convinced I had some horrible illness or cancer. I had never heard of IBS. Does anyone else have this awful bloating without any major C or D? Is anyone else on Zelnorm and what has your experience been? I have read Heather's book which was wonderful. It seems to be directed more towards IBS-D however? Is diet to help bloating different? Thank you so much to anyone who cares to reply; your interest is greatly appreciated.
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Hi and welcome to the board....
The best things that I have found to help with gas and bloating are walking (even if it is just a 10 minute stroll after meals) and herbal teas. Anything with fennel in it is really helpful. The best tea that I have found for this, with help from this board is Celestial Seasonings Tummy Mint tea. It is great for gas and bloating, I drink it with every meal now. Others make tea from fennel seeds which is supposed to be much stronger and very helpful
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I have IBS C as well, and the best thing that I have found to help the gas, bloating, pain and C is FIBER! I use different types; Metamucil, Fibercon and Benefiber. This is addressed in both of Heather's books. Also, nice warm baths seem to help my bloating. Also, as of the past month, I have been on an elimination diet which basically restricts the wheat and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY! You may want to check with a naturopath or Natural MD for somehting like that. Good luck!
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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about???
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Hi - Welcome to the board! Tnchawk and Teg gave great advice - I'd really second the soluble fiber supplements and foods, and also drinking strong hot fennel tea (which is very anti-gas and anti-bloating). These should really help. And don't worry, the IBS diet guidelines are for normalizing bowel function from either extreme. They'll work for both diarrhea and constipation, and help with the pain as well.
Best,
Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Last week I saw my mom's doctor (mine has been mysteriously out of town for long stretches--not very helpful, you know?). He has IBS himself and helped to develop Zelnorm, and he gave me 10 days' worth of samples. But he did NOT want to hear about the diet, and he didn't even ask me about my symptoms(!). I'm prone to C, but I can keep it under control with Heather's diet, and what I had asked for was something for the pain, which is the only symptom I can't seem to control with diet. Anyway, the Zelnorm gave me D every day for the five days I faithfully took it, so I stopped taking it--I mean, really! I go back to the doc on Friday but my hopes are not high. Anyway, I'm wishing you better luck than I had.
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I also had diarreah at first. I only weigh about 108lbs so I thought perhaps the 6mg dose was too high. Try cutting your pills in half and see what happens( 3mg before breakfast and 3mg before dinner). I did this for a week and it helped. I am now able to take the full dose without any problems. Also follow directions exactly. Take it on an empty stomach but do not wait longer than 1 hour before you eat, otherwise it can result in D. The Zelnorm has helped me with pain, probably because it has reduced my bloating some. Gook Luck
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Hey artist-
I have the same thing, I go to the doctor on Monday, I have self-diagnosed myself. I am a 34 year female of the same height and weight as you and am a very avid athlete, however this mess is no fun and it is hard to work out when you are bloated and feeling "heavy" because of irregularity. I have been taking Flax fiber and Ultra Colon Clenz every day it helps with the C some, I try to stick to the diet and eat very healthy as a general rule. However I haven't found much that makes me feel good and most days I don't feel great, I have a really good day every now and then and it just lets me know how bad I really feed most days. Sorry I can't be of more help, will write back after I get doctor results.
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Screen Name: Nan275
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Hey, what does your elimination diet consist of? I might need to try this.
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Screen Name: Nan275
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I'll ask the doctor again, about lowering the dose etc., but he didn't tell me whether to take it on an empty stomach or not (I did) and whether it would interact with other drugs I'm on (I couldn't check myself 'cause my copy of _The Pill Book_ is in another state). Basically, he didn't tell me anything, which seems like pretty careless medical care to me....
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The only time I've received any additional information other than take it 3 times a day, was when I joined the controlled clinical study. Even when I took Lotronex in beginning, I never received any additional information other than take one here and one there. My GI or GP have never told me anything, the only doc who says something is my OB/GYN, he always drills me on meds and looks them up. I only see him once a year (if I'm lucky).
So if your regular doc is giving you good info even though she disappears for weeks, I'd still see her when you get back.
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Laurie 
Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission - Eleanor Roosevelt
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